Some Foods Affect Taste Of Cigarettes

Research suggests certain foods affect the taste of cigarettes and may even make quitting a little easier.

Addicted smokers say there are times a cigarette tastes even better.

" Caffeine and liquor will make you smoke," said a man on the street. "When you eat dinner or lunch, which is the heaviest meals, for some reason the cigarette tastes better," another men said.

But scientists have found certain food and drink may also have an opposite effect and doctors hope it can help smokers quit.

"The idea is you use all of the tricks you can to succeed with smoking cessation," Dr. Mary O'Sullivan from St. Luke's Hospital said. "You use the medication; you use every trick in the book, because it is a very tough addiction to break."

Duke researchers interviewed more than 200 smokers and discovered fruits, vegetables, milk and juice can worsen the taste of cigarettes.

Traditionally the addiction has always centered around nicotine. Now more attention is being paid to the taste, smell and experience of cigarettes.

"There is a whole side of stopping smoking which is behavioral and they're focusing on the sensory part and the pleasure part of it," O'Sullivan said.

Until science has those answers, the new research at least gives smokers an easy way to diminish their desire by laying off caffeine and alcohol and loading up on fruits and vegetables.

Researchers aren't sure why foods like broccoli and apples make cigarettes less appealing to smokers, but they're hoping it will lead to new aids for people trying to quit.